Andina

Yaguas National Park, a natural laboratory in Peru

14:22 | Lima, Jan. 24.

The international scientific community noted the varied biodiversity and socio-environmental values of the recently-created Yaguas National Park.

Scientists stressed the importance of the new protected natural area to preserve this vast and unspoiled Amazon basin with more than 200 km of forest.

These were the main conclusions of a presentation on biological and geological findings made with communities throughout the Putumayo basin and other areas in Loreto region for the categorization of Yaguas as a National Park.

The presentation was led by Peru's Environment Ministry and State-run National Service of Natural Protected Areas (Sernanp).


According to Sernanp's Head Pedro Gamboa, the activity is intended to spread the importance of the park by presenting research findings that will contribute to the protected natural area management.


"Scientific studies on biodiversity are key not only to determine the areas of conservation interest worldwide but also to discover natural resources that are important for local communities and whose use can be strengthened to benefit and improve people's quality of life," Gamboa expressed.

For her part, Andes-Amazon Program Director at Chicago's Field Museum Corine Vriesendorp revealed details of the rapid biological and social inventory conducted in Yaguas National Park by a team of Peruvians and Colombians back in October 2010.

Likewise, national and foreign researchers such as Pablo Venegas, Juan Diaz, Claus Garcia, and Richard Smith shared information on the park's characteristics (geology, herpetofauna, avifauna, mammals, fish, as well as social and cultural aspects).

(END) NDP/LZD/MAO/RMB/MVB

Published: 1/24/2018